Gun-carriage.



No; 723,617. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

J. F. MEIGS & R. P. STOUT.

GUN CARRIAGE.

IOATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1901.

mum I.

No. 723,617. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903. Q J. F. MEIGS & R. P. STOUT.

GUN CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION mum SEPT. 20, 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- N0 MODEL Q Vi incomes PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

J. F. MEIGS 8: R. P. STOUT.

GUN CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

lf/eon m1, 0

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. J. P. MEIGS & R. P. STOUT.

GUN CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED- STATES PATENT Option.

JOHN F. MEIGS, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, AND ROBERT P. STOUT, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GUN-C-ARRIAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,617, dated March 24, 1903.

Application filed September 20, 1901. Serial No. 75,852. (No modeli) T0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN F. MEIGS, residing at South Bethlehem,and ROBERT P. STOUT, residing at Bethlehem, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun-Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in gun-carriages, but more particularly to improvements in carriages or mounts for fieldguns.

The object of our invention is to produce a carriage for field-gunsormountain-guns which may readily be taken apart into a separate number of loads and packed upon horseback for transportation, while at the same time the carriage or mount is composed of the least number of parts and is built in the lightest and simplest possible manner compatible with strength.

Our invention consists, primarily, in a carriage for field-guns which is dismountable or may be broken up in a particular way into a separate number of loads each of about the proper weight for a horse to carry, and the carriage is dismounted bythe simple removal of several pins holding the parts together, the fingers only being necessary in removing the pins, or a wooden drift may be used.

Taking as an illustration a three-inch mou n-- tain-gun and carriage built according to the present invention, it will be found that the whole load of this gun and carriage is about seven hundred and twenty-nine to eight hundred pounds, and this breaks up into loads of about two hundred pounds, which is about the maximum that a horse can carry. As stated, the carriage may be taken apart by the removal of several. pins, the actual num ber of pinsin this case being but fivenamely, the two linchpins, a pin holding the elevating-gear to the slide, and two pins holding the straps which go over the top of the gun to confine it to the cradle. In packing the gun the loads consistof the gun, the cradle and slide, the wheels and the axle, and the trail, thus making four loads. Our invention further consists in the several minor features of our improved carriage all contributing to the general object in view of producing a dismountable carriage particularly suitable to mountain-guns.

Our invention also consists in the arrangement of recoiling parts in such manner as to give a maximu m recoiling weight with a minimum lift of the wheels of the gun when fired and a minimum recoil of the carriage on the ground. The parts of the carriage, while arranged to be taken apart and packed in sections, are also arranged with these further ends in view relating to the recoiling parts We obtain the maximum recoiling weight possible in a dismountable carriage of the construction to be described by combining the whole weight of the gun and gun-cradle, the recoil of which together is much less than would be the recoil of the gun alone, and although the recoiling weight in this way is very materially greater than the weight of the gun alone yet the gun may be of the full weight possible-as,forinstance, in the threeinch mountain-gun referred to the gun itself would weigh about two hundred pounds. If the gun slid in the cradle fast to the slideframe, leaving the recoil-cylinders behind (which is the usual construction,) the recoil would be much greaterthat is, the carriage would run farther back on the ground and the wheels would jump higher off the ground -and it is also possible by our construction to get a longer recoil of the gun on the carriagejabout half the length of the gun-- which further contributes to keeping the gun quietfand unmoved on the ground when it is tired.

Our invention is more fully set forth and illustrated in its many details of construction and operation in the accompanying specification and drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the gun and carriage with one wheel removed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the handspik'e. Fig. 3 is a side view of the gun in its cradle, the slide-frame, and a recoil-cylinder, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the cradle and slide-frame on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5'is a sectional view of the cradle and slide-frame on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front end View of the slide-frame looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3. Fig. '7 is a plan View, partly broken away, of the trail with one of the primer-boxes shown open. Fig. 8 is a sideview,with part broken away, of the trail, partly in section. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a plan view, partly in section, of the axle. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, through a recoil-cylinder with some of the parts broken away. Fig. 12 is a side view of part of a piston-rod, showing the rotating valve. Fig. 13 is an end view of the slotted collar on line t 4.- of Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrow X. Fig. 14 is an end view of the rotating. valve looking in the direction of the arrow Y, Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail view of the hinge on the central collar of the cradle. Fig. 16 is an end view of the hinge; and Fig. 17 is a side view of the hinge-pin, also enlarged.

Referring to the drawings, A represents one of the wheels of the gun-carriage, which may be of any suitable or usual construction, the other wheel for convenience not being shown, and the wheels are adapted to rotate on the ends A of the axle A Fig. 10, being secured thereto by the usual linchpins, and are thus readily removable by simply removing the linchpins. The axle A is in this instance made of one piece and preferably is of forged steel and is provided with removable bushings Ct, secured in this instance to the axle by keys a, so that either one of the bushings may be slipped off at will. These bushings are preferably of forged steel and have lugs a with intermediate recesses a on their inner ends.

The gun-trail B is built for strength and lightness and is hollow throughout, consisting of a shell B, preferably of rolled steel, having a top portion B extending over only a portion of the top of the trail, leaving the upper portion of the same open, and also having reinforcing plates B reinforcing the curved portion of the trail to the point where it embraces the axle.

As shown in Fig. 9, the bushings or collars C are secured in any suitable manner, as by bolts 0, to the upper portion of the trail, and these collars are provided with lugs c and recesses 0 corresponding to the lugs a and recesses a on the bushings a of the axle, and in assembling the parts, one of the bushings on the axle having been removed, the axle is passed through the collars or bushings on the trail, and the lugs a on the axle-bushings are adapted to engage the recesses in the collars of the trail, thus confining the trail to the axle.

The trail is provided with the usual handspike H, the construction of which is shown in detail in Fig. 2, and with a ground-spike H; but the construction and operation of the handspike H being no part of our present invention it need not be further described. Any usual or suitable means M are also provided, supported by the trail, for raising and lowering the slide-frame of the gun, and for convenience in dismounting the parts handles Nof any suitable character are connected to that portion of the trail adjacent to the connection between the trail and the axle for lifting the upper portion of the trail to remove the wheels of the carriage.

Trail-flasks are provided connected to the I trail, these consisting of a flask D for priming-powder, the neck D of which extends through an opening in the top of the trail, while the flask is connected in any suitable manner, as by screws D to the top of the trail, the body of the flask being within the hollow body of the trail. A primer-box is also arranged within the hollow body of the trail, this being formed, preferably, of a piece of wood W, covered by a rubber gasket G and connected to the under portion of the top of the trail by means of screws G, inserted from the outside and passing through both the rubber gasket G and the wooden block W. Holes W are bored through the trail, gasket, and wooden block for the insertion of primers, the hinged covers F, lined with felt F, being adapted to close tightly over the top of the primer-box. may be of any suitable material, is arranged in connection with the wooden block of the primer-box for the reception of waste.

The slide-frame S is in general outline of any convenient or suitable construction, preferably of cast-steel, and is adapted to be pivoted upon the axle A by means of an aperture S in the frame, and in assembling the parts the axle is passed at one and the same time through the collars on the trail and through the aperture S in the slide-frame, the frame reposing between the collars of the trail.

The raising and lowering mechanism M is connected to the slide by means of a pin P and aperture P in the slide, this pin being of a character such that it may be readily removed with the fingers or by means of a wooden drift for taking the carriage apart. The slide-frame S is provided with a front end portion or flange 8*, the function of which will hereinafter appear. 7

Arranged to slide upon the slide-frame is a gun-cradle E, provided with supports E for the rear portions of the recoil-cylinders O and also provided with supports E for the front portions of the recoil-cylinders, the supports E being shown as bushings in which the ends of the cylinders are adapted to screw, so that a fluid-tight joint may be formed, these bushings also being arranged to receive glands E for making a fluid-tightjoint around the piston-rods L.

Hinged straps Q, having grooves Q in their inner portions adapted to engage rings Q on the gun J, are also connected to the cradle, so that when the straps are closed about the A receptacle R, which gun J and secured by pins J it will be seen that the gun is movable with the cradle. Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the gun to the cradle, so that it is movable therewith, and we have shown only one convenientform of means. The lockingpins J may also be of any character desired; but in this instance they are constructed to be readily removable with the fingers, the holej being provided with an enlarged portionj and a slotj which slot is adapted to receive a featherj on the pin J, so that when the pin is inserted in the hole the feather j will pass through the slot 7' and when said feather reaches the enlarged portionj the pin may be turned, causing the feather to pass down into the enlarged portion j, thus securing the pin and preventing itfrom falling out or being shaken out until it is turned to the proper point for removal. Both the lockingpins J are formed in this manner.

As herein before stated, the recoil-cylinders O, constituting the recoil-check of the gun, are secured to the gun-cradlein such manner as to move therewith upon recoil, the guncradle and cylinders therefore recoiling together.

The piston-rods L are connected in any suitable mannerto the end portion S of the slideframe S. As shown, the rods are passed through apertures S in the portion S and are secured therein by means of nuts 8, so that the piston-rods L are connected to the slideframe S and are stationary relative to the cradle and cylinders.

The piston-rodsL are formed with a hollow portion L, Figs. 3 and 11, and are provided with pistons at their rear ends in the form of piston-rings 1, suitably secured to the pistonrods, as shown in this instance by means of screws 2. The piston-rods are preferably of forged steel, while the piston-rings should be of any suitable material, as brass. In the following description but one recoil-cylinder, its piston, and parts will be described, it being understood that both recoilcylinders and their parts shown are of the same construction, and whether two or more recoil-cylinders are used it will be understood that they should all be constructed substantially the same.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14, a collar 3 is connected to the hollow portion L of the piston, preferably seated against a shoulder 4, which collar may be of any suitable material and is provided with slots 5 in its periphery. This collar is shrunk upon the piston or otherwise fixedly connected to it,so as not to be movable thereon. Suitable means are provided for allowing the passage of fluid to and from the rear of the piston, as shown in this instance apertures 6 being provided between the collar 3 and piston-ring 1 in the shell of the piston-rod, so that fluid passing through the slots 5 in the collar 3 finds its way to the rear of the piston through the apertures 6. W'ithin the rear end of the hollow portion of the piston, and as shown situated beneath the piston-ring, is secured a throttling-ring 7 of any suitable form, but is shown as internally tapered,with rounded edges at the opening 8.

In order to throttle the fluid upon recoil, and thus equalize the pressure and obtain a uniform recoil, a throttling-barUis connected in any suitable manner, as by a screw and socket U", to the cylinder 0 and is extended.

into the hollow portion L of the piston sliding therein. This throttling-bar U is provided with a tapered portion U tapering from the front toward the rear, which tapered portion is adapted to slide through the opening 8 in the throttling-ring 7 and cause a gradual throttling of the fluid upon recoil, since the gun, the cradle, the recoil-cylinder, and the throttling-bar connected to the recoil-cylinder all move to the rear when the gun is discharged, and the fluid passing through the apertures 6 into the chamber 9 and from thence to the rear of the piston is gradually throttled between the throttlingring 7and the throttli ng-bar U. Furtherthrottling means are provided through the operation of a rotating valve V, movable upon the hollow portion L of the piston and arranged adjacent to the collar 3,with the slots or valveopenings 5 in its periphery. While the function of this rotating valve V will be to throttle the fluid somewhatbecause of the spiral openings V, arranged in its periphery at substantially an angle of forty-five degrees, at the same time the ultimate function of our rotating valve is different, as will hereinafter appear. This rotating valve V may be of any suitable material, as bronze, and is arranged loosely upon the piston-rod with a limited rotation relative to the collar 3. A ring-nut 10 is shown connected to the piston-rod by screwthreads adapted to seat the rotating valve V against the collar 3, and this ring-nut 10 also forms an abutment for the com pression-spring 11, arranged within the recoil-cylinder and around the piston-rod and abutting at its forward end against the cylinder, so that upon recoil this spring is compressed and tends to restore the parts to operative position upon the back stroke. This compression-spring may be arranged in any suitable manner to accomplish the end in view; but We have simply shown it within the recoil-cylinder and arranged in the manner described for convenience and simplicity of construction.

Upon an examination of Fig. 13, being a view of the collar 3 on the line 4 4 of Fig. 11 looking in the direction of the arrow X, it will be seen thatthis collar 3 is provided with lugs 12, (shown in this instance as each covering a definite angular portion of the surface of the collar-nainely,about thirty-five degrees,) while upon an examination of Fig. 14, being a view of the rotating valve V, Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrow Y, it will be seen that the rotating valve is provided with recesses 13 for the reception of the lugs 12,

these recesses each covering an angular portion of the rotating valve of about forty-five degrees, so that the rotating valve may have a play of about ten degrees relatively to the collar 3. Upon recoil the pressure of the fluid as it passes through the spiral openings V of the rotating valve V will cause it to move in a clockwise direction, looking in the direction of the arrow X, as far as the lugs 12 on the collar 3 will permit. The parts are then in the positions shown in Fig. 12, the slots 5 in the collar 3 and the spiral openings V in the rotating valve V being in conjunction.

During recoil the fluid passing through the spiral openings V, through slots 5, and through the aperture 6 is throttled between the throttling-bar U and the throttling-ring 7 and passes to the rear of the piston;. but upon the back stroke or counter recoil,when the gun and cradle are being returned upon the slideframe through the action of the spring 11, the motion of the fiuid through the spiral openings V tends to rotate the valve V in a direction counter clockwise looking in the direction of the arrow X, partially closing the slots 5 in the collar 3 to a predetermined position controlled by the relative size of the lugs 12 on the collar 3 and recesses 13 in valve V, thus damping the return stroke and preventing sharp impact between the movable parts of the guncarriage and the stationary parts upon this return stroke.

It will thus be seen that we provide a fluid recoil-check for guns having a cylinder and piston one of which is movable relatively to the other, that means are provided for allowing the passage of fluid to and from the rear of the piston and means are also provided for throttling the fluid on recoil, and that there is arotating valve in the cylinder operated by fluid-pressure only for controlling the passage of fluid, and a spring or any other suitable means operating to return the parts after recoil. In other words, our rotating valve for controlling the passage of fluid is not positively actuated by any mechanical connection with a moving part, but is operated by fluid-pressure in the cylinders only. Our rotating valve in the cylinder operates to control the passage of fluid on the back stroke to damp the movement of the parts in returning to operative positions and prevent concussion and impact between the stationary and moving parts, and it will thus be seen that the spiral openings in our rotating valve cooperate with a plurality of valve openings or slots in the collar on the piston-rod, and the operation is such that said valve-openings remain open on recoil, but are closed to a predetermined point on the back stroke.

We do not herein claim the specific construction of the recoil-check, as we understand that this is not proper subject-matter for this application; but we reserve the right to make a separate application for the same.

Without limiting ourselves to the precise details of construction shown and described,

we claim, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, the following:

1. A dismountable carriage for field-guns, comprising the wheels, an axle provided with removable bushings, a trail provided with collars adapted to fit over the axle and be confined between said bushings, a slide-frame pivoted on the axle between the collars of the trail, means for raising and lowering the rear end of the slide-frame, a gun-cradle adapted to slide in the slide-frame, and a recoil-check for the gun connected to the cradle, substantially as described.

2. A dismountable carriage for field-guns, comprising the wheels, an axle provided with removable bushings having lugs, a trail provided with collars having recesses said collars being adapted to fit over the axle and being confined thereon between said bushings, the lugs on the bushings entering the recesses in the collars, a slide-frame pivoted on the axle between the collars of the trail, means for raising and lowering the rear end of the slideframe,.a gun-cradle adapted to slide in the slide-frame, and a recoil-check for the gun connected to the cradle, substantially as described.

3. A dismountable carriage for field-guns, comprising the wheels, a trail provided with collars adapted to fit an axle said axle having removable bushings for confining the trail to the axle, a slide-frame pivoted on the axle between the collars of the trail, means detachably connected to the slide-frame for raising and lowering the rear end of the slide-frame, a cradle slidable on said frame, internallygrooved collars on the cradle with hinged portions, removable locking-pins for said hinged portions, and a recoil-check on the cradle and connected to the slide-frame, substantially as 7 described.

4:. A dismountable carriage for field-guns, comprising the Wheels, a trail provided with collars adapted to fit an axle said axle having removable bushings for confining the trail to the axle, a slide-framepivoted on the axle between the collars of the trail, means detachably connected to the slide-frame for raising and lowering the rear end of the slide-frame, a cradle slidable on said frame, internallygrooved collars on the cradle with hinged portions, and removable locking-pins for said hinged portions, substantially as described.

5. Inadismountablecarriageforfield-guns, the combination with the wheels, of an axle provided with bushings keyed thereto and having at their inner ends projecting lugs and intermediate recesses, and a trail having collars adapted to fit over the axle and between the bushings, said collars being provided at their outer ends with lugs and intermediate recesses corresponding to those on the bushings and adapted to engage therewith, substantially as described.

6. In a carriage for field-guns, the combination of an axle provided with removable bushings having lugs, and a trail provided with collars adapted to fit over the axle between said bushings, said collars having recesses corresponding to the lugs on the bushings and adapted to receive the same, substantially as described.

7. In a carriage for field-guns, a trail provided with a primer-box consisting of a wooden block covered with a rubber gasket and fastened to the inside of the top of the trail, openings passing through the top of the trail and the gasket and extending into the block for the reception of primers, and a felted cover for the primer-box, substantially as described.

8. In a carriage for field-guns, a trail provided with a primer-box consisting of a block covered with a gasket of soft material and fastened inside the trail, the said trail having openings registering with openings in the gasket and block for the reception of primers, substantially as described.

9. In a carriage for field-guns, a trail provided with a primer 1 box consisting of a wooden block covered with a rubber gasket and fastened to the inside of the top of the trail,which is provided with openings adapted to register with openings in the gasket and block for the reception of primers, and a fitted cover for the primer-box, substantially as described.

10. In a dismountable carriage for fieldguns, the combination of the axle,the wheels, the trail fitting on the axle, the slide-frame pivoted on the axle, the gun, the strap for holding the gun in place, and removable means for detachably securing the parts together, whereby they may be separated into loads of approximately equal weight, substantiall y as set forth. I

11. In a dismounta'ole carriage for fieldguns, the combination of the axle, the wheels, the trail fitting on the axle, the slide-frame pivoted on the axle, means for raising and lowering the frame, the cradle slidable on the frame, the recoil-check, the gun, the strap for holding the gun on the cradle, and removable pins for detachably securing said parts together, whereby the carriage may be separated into four loads of approximately equal weight, substantially as set forth.

12. In a dismountable carriage for fieldguns, the combination of the axle, the wheels, the trail fitting on the axle, the slide-frame pivoted to the axle between the sides of the trail, means between the trail and the slideframe for raising and lowering the latter, the cradle slidable on the frame, the recoil-check on thecradle, the gun, the straps for securing the gun to the cradle, and five pins for detachably securing said parts together, whereby on the removal of said pins the carriage may be separated into four loads of approximately equal weight, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- JOHN F. MEIGS.

ROBERT P. STOUT. Witnesses:

J. E. MATHEWS, W. W. JOHNSTON. 

